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One of the distinctive marks of the Bible-Presbyterian Church is the commemoration of Reformation Sunday.  The greatest event in the history of the church since Pentecost, the Reformation in the 16th Century was another outpouring of the Holy Spirit as God guided the leaders of the Reformation in Western Europe to a right understanding of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible – in short, a return to the historic Christian faith as taught by the Word of God.  Hence, the Protestant watchword, “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1: 17).  Let us remind ourselves to hold on to the “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). 

It is appropriate, on this special occasion, to honour those who have faithfully defended the faith to the extent of paying with their lives.   Today, we consider the life of Nicholas Ridley who led the English Reformation.

Family Background and Education

The third son of a respectable English family, Ridley was born in 1503 at Willymonteswick, Northumberland, near the Scottish border.  Young Ridley was “tall and handsome, in every way good to look at; he had a disposition of great sweetness and strength” – John Foxe.

Ridley’s early education was at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.  He continued his studies at Pembroke College, Cambridge.  It was noted that he was a student of “uncommon diligence and ability.”  At that time, his religious convictions were that of “an imperious, virtuous, zealous papist.”  He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Master’s degree in 1525. 

Theological Studies

Two years later,  an uncle, Robert Ridley, a professor of Divinity, impressed by his nephew’s diligence and rapid progress, sent him to study divinity among the doctors of the Sorbonne at Paris, which was then the most celebrated university in Europe.  Meticulous and disciplined in his studies, the young Cambridge scholar soon acquired a great proficiency in Latin and Greek; he memorised most of the epistles in the original Greek.

The strict discipline which he had cultivated in his student days continued with him for the rest of his life: “Ridley would daily begin his work with half an hour of prayer on his knees.  Once he has completed his spiritual meditations, he would immediately enter his study where he continued till eleven at night.  The only times when he would come out of his study was when it was time for meals.  When he finished his meals, he delighted to contest with his friends in a game of chess for about an hour.  After this, he would return to his study to continue his work” – Foxe.

After a short stint among the professors of Lovain, Ridley returned to Cambridge to resume his theological studies.  He applied himself to the reading of the Scriptures as his surest guide. 

In 1534, Ridley was appointed Senior Proctor of the university.  Six years later, he was awarded the honorary title, “Master of Pembroke.”

Clerical Advancement

Besides these excellent scholarly achievements in Pembroke, Ridley also had an outstanding clerical career.  In 1537, after his graduation with a Divinity degree, he was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, to serve as one of his domestic chaplains.   The following year, Cranmer made him vicar of Herne in Kent.  In 1547, Ridley accepted a call to be Bishop of Rochester.  After three years, he was appointed Bishop of London by King Edward VI.

When we pause to consider Ridley’s impressive clerical career, we must certainly attribute it to God’s grace alone.  But Ridley never forgot what he owed to his Alma Mater.  Through Cambridge, the Lord had prepared His servant to lead the English Reformation.  A few days before his death, Ridley wrote a Farewell in which he paid a tribute to his Alma Mater :

“Farewell therefore Cambridge, my loving mother and tender nurse!  If I should not acknowledge thy manifold benefits, yea, if I should not for thy benefits at the least love thee again, truly I were to be accounted ungrate and unkind … Thou didst bestow on me all thy school degrees: of thy common offices, the Chaplainship of the University, the office of the proctorship, and of a common reader; and of thy private commodities, and of emoluments in Colleges, what was it that thou madest me not partner of?  First to be scholar, then Fellow and after my departure from thee thou calledst me again to a Mastership of a right wonderful College” – Reformed Digest 1998 Issue 1/1.

Contributions to the Reformation

All this while, Ridley rigidly clung on to his Romish beliefs.  Like Cranmer, his understanding of Protestant truths came about gradually.  It is likely that Ridley was aroused to embrace Protestant sentiments when he was pursuing his divinity studies.

Around this time, there was significant debate over the Pope’s supremacy.  Ridley was well versed in Biblical hermeneutics, and through his arguments, the university came up with the following resolution: “That the Bishop of Rome had no more authority and jurisdiction derived to him from God, in this kingdom of England, than any other foreign bishop.”  (… to be continued)
- Pastor

Pastor’s Note : Part II of “The Cost of Discipleship” (Part I on 18th October) will follow after this series of Reformation articles.